Allow ample time to request any third party transcripts or other documentation.

Application Fee:

$110.00 out-of-state

License Expires:

3 or 5 years from date of issue depending on qualifications

Checklist

Identification

Submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

If you already hold a valid, CDE-issued educational credential and have consistently maintained an active credential (authorization or license) since you submitted your fingerprints, you can skip this step. We reserve the right to evaluate your application for adherence to the fingerprint requirements and will notify you by email should any follow-up be needed.

If you have submitted fingerprints for CDE credentialing in the past, but allowed all credentials to lapse and have held no active credential for a period exceeding 1 year, you must submit a new set of fingerprints.

Confirm you have a valid form of government-issued identification. If you are using a photo ID issued by another state or country, please carefully review the identification requirements as additional documents will be needed.
( View List of Valid IDs )

Education

List the names and addresses of the colleges/universities you've attended.

State statute requires that you submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. This would include any transfer credits that led to your degree earned. Official transcripts must show a minimum of a Bachelor's degree conferred. ( View Transcript Requirements )

Transcripts from institutions outside the US must be in English or include an authentic English translation, and have been evaluated by an established credential evaluation service as selected by CDE for course equivalence. CDE currently only accepts evaluations completed by a NACES member.

Three or more years of full-time, special services educator-licensed experience within the past seven years OR a completed Approved Program Verification Form. If you have three or more years' post-preparation experience as a full-time special services provider (not on a substitute, emergency or temporary basis), please include in the application copies of all licenses (expired or current) that cover this experience. If you do not have three years of full-time licensed experience, please include a complete approved program verification form, unless your preparation program was completed outside the US (as verification of your program will be confirmed on your NACES member-prepared course-by-course transcript equivalency report).
( Download the Verification Form (PDF) )

Please note*: For out-of-state applicants seeking a School Social Worker endorsement, coursework in school law, special education law, functional behavioral assessment and behavior intervention plans is required. If you have not completed this coursework, please view this information.